Lipid barrier repair

1. A homogenous semi-solid composition consisting of:

a) a semifluorinated alkane;

b) one or more solid thickening agents; and

c) optionally one or more excipients;

wherein the composition is formulated for topical application to skin, and

wherein the semifluorinated alkane is selected from 1-perfluorobutyl-pentane (F4H5), 1-perfluorobutyl-hexane (F4H6), 1-perfluorobutyl-octane (F4H8), 1-perfluorobutyl-decane (F4H10), 1-perfluorohexyl-octane (F6H8), 1-perfluorohexyl-decane (F6H10) and combinations thereof, and

wherein the semifluorinated alkane is present at a concentration of 80-97 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition, and wherein the solid thickening agents are selected from plant waxes, animal waxes, petroleum-derived waxes, solid triglycerides, C12-24 fatty acids, C8-18 glycerides, fatty alcohols, fatty alcohol derivatives, or any combination thereof, wherein the solid thickening agents are present at a concentration of 3-11 wt % based on the total weight of the composition; and

wherein the one or more excipients are selected from cosolvents and oily materials;

wherein the composition is in the form of an ointment.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the semifluorinated alkane is selected from 1-perfluorobutyl-pentane (F4H5) and 1-perfluorohexyl-octane (F6H8).

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the semifluorinated alkane is 1-perfluorohexyl-octane (F6H8).

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more solid thickening agents are selected from petroleum derived waxes, bees wax, paraffin wax, cetyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, carnauba wax, lanolin, and combinations thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition consists of the semifluorinated alkane, the one or more solid thickening agents, and one or more excipients selected from squalane, isopropanol, ethanol, and diethyl sebecate.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition consists of 89-97 wt. % F6H8 and 3-11 wt. % bees wax, based on the total weight of the composition.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition consists of 80-97 wt % of the semifluorinated alkane, 3-11 wt % of the thickening agent and 3-6 wt % of the one or more excipients, based on the total weight of the composition.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a semi-solid at room temperature that melts upon contact with the skin of a mammal's body.

9. The composition according to claim 6 , wherein the composition consists of (i) 89 wt. % F6H8 and 11 wt. % bees wax, (ii) 93 wt. % F6H8 and 7 wt. % beeswax, (iii) 95 wt. % F6H8 and 5 wt. % bees wax, or (iv) 97 wt. % F6H8 and 3 wt. % beeswax, based on the total weight of the composition.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition.

11. A method for the treatment of a disease or condition associated with lipid barrier damage of skin, comprising topically administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 to the skin.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the disease associated with the lipid barrier damage of the skin is selected from irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the condition associated with lipid barrier damage is selected from dry skin, aged skin, and itchiness.

14. A kit comprising the composition according to claim 1 and a container for holding the composition.

15. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the solid thickening agent is selected from bees wax, paraffin wax, cetyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate 15, and mixtures thereof.

16. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition consists of 88-93 wt. % F6H8 and 3-5 wt. % bees wax, based on the total weight of the composition, and one or more of cetyl palmitate 15, cetyl alcohol, squalane, and isopropanol.

17. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition consists of (i) 93 wt. % F6H8, 3 wt. % bees wax, and 4 wt. % cetyl palmitate 15, (ii) 90 wt. % F6H8, 3 wt. % bees wax, and 7 wt. % cetyl alcohol, (iii) 90 wt. % F6H8, 4 wt. % bees wax, and 6 wt. % squalane, (iv) 90 wt. % F6H8, 5 wt. % bees wax, 5 wt. % isopropanol, (v) 90 wt. % F6H8, 3 wt. % bees wax, 4 wt. % cetyl alcohol, and 3 wt. % isopropanol, (vi) 88 wt. % F6H8, 3 wt. % bees wax, 4 wt. % cetyl palmitate 15, and 5 wt. % isopropanol, or (vii) 90 wt. % F6H8, 5 wt % cetyl palmitate 15 and 5 wt. % squalane, based on the total weight of the composition.

18. The composition according to claim 7 , wherein the composition consists of the F 6 H 8 at a concentration of 92 percent by weight, beeswax at a concentration of 5 percent by weight and squalane at a concentration of 3 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

19. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the semifluorinated alkane is selected from 1-perfluorobutyl-pentane (F4H5) and 1-perfluorohexyl-octane (F6H8), and wherein the semifluorinated alkane is present at a concentration of 85-97 wt % based on the total weight of the composition; wherein the solid thickening agent is selected from bees wax, paraffin wax, cetyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate 15, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the solid thickening agent is present at a concentration of 3-11 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more solid thickening agents are selected from plant waxes, animal waxes, petroleum-derived waxes, solid triglycerides, C8-18 glycerides, fatty alcohols, fatty alcohol derivatives, and any combinations thereof.

21. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more solid thickening agents are selected from plant waxes, animal waxes, petroleum derived waxes, solid triglycerides, cetyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate 15, tetradecanol, and any combinations thereof.